By Moses Joshua 
Detroit’s young defensive architect draws interest from Miami as the Lions confront another offseason of uncertainty on the sidelines.
The Detroit Lions’ long climb back to relevance hit an unexpected snag in 2025. For the first time since 2022, they were left outside the playoff picture, and now the fallout is spreading beyond the roster.
The front office already made one tough decision, parting ways with offensive coordinator John Morton after just one season. That move reopened a wound created when Ben Johnson left town, and it underlined how fragile Detroit’s recent momentum can be when the coaching staff is in flux.
Now, a new complication has surfaced — this one on the defensive side.
Miami Comes Calling
On Monday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Miami Dolphins have requested permission to interview Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard for their vacant head coaching job. Miami dismissed Mike McDaniel after four seasons, and Sheppard’s name quickly landed on their radar.
For Sheppard, the connection is more than professional. He spent two seasons with the Dolphins during his playing career in 2014 and 2015, and according to Jordan Schultz, he is viewed around the league as “a rising young coach.”
At just 38, Sheppard has already climbed the coaching ladder at a remarkable pace, and this marks his first opportunity to sit across the table as a potential NFL head coach.
A First Season That Turned Heads
The Lions’ defense wasn’t perfect in 2025, but context matters.
In Sheppard’s first year running the unit, Detroit finished:
- Fifth in the league in sacks with 49
- 20th in passing yards allowed at 217.4 per game
- 14th in rushing yards allowed at 114.5 per game
- 22nd in scoring defense at 24.3 points per game
Those numbers don’t scream dominance, but they reflect a group that spent much of the year patching holes in a battered secondary. Despite the injuries, the pass rush remained active, and the defense never completely lost its edge — a notable achievement for a first-year coordinator learning on the fly.
With better health and a few reinforcements, the foundation is clearly there for growth in 2026.
What It Would Mean for Detroit
Sheppard’s interview doesn’t guarantee a departure, and in fact, it may be more likely that he returns for a second season. Still, the timing couldn’t be worse for head coach Dan Campbell.
Last offseason, Detroit watched both coordinators leave for head coaching jobs. Losing another defensive leader so soon would force the Lions into a second straight year of rebuilding their entire coordinator structure — something no contender wants to deal with.
Campbell has spent years cultivating stability in Detroit, and Sheppard’s emergence is proof that the Lions are now viewed as a place where coaching talent is developed. That’s a compliment, but it comes with consequences.
If the defense takes a leap in 2026, Sheppard could quickly be mentioned in the same breath as other young breakout coordinators around the league. For now, Detroit can only wait, hopeful that this first interview is just that — a step, not an exit.